CT UAV orders 100 eVTOL aircraft from SkyDrive

By Tri Duc
Tue, July 18, 2023 | 4:59 pm GMT+7

CT UAV, a Vietnamese unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) developer, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Japanese firm SkyDrive on booking up to 100 ‘flying cars.’

SkyDrive, headquartered in Toyota city, is a leading developer of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.

CT UAV and SkyDrive executives sign an MoU in Ho Chi Minh City, July 13, 2023. Photo courtesy of CT Group.

CT UAV and SkyDrive executives sign an MoU in Ho Chi Minh City, July 13, 2023. Photo courtesy of CT Group.

CT UAV is a subsidiary of the CT Group, which operates in nine business lines, six of which involve high-tech industries that aim to bring Vietnam up to speed with the 4.0 technology revolution.

SKYDRIVE is a three-seat, electric-powered lightweight aircraft with vertical take-off and landing capabilities. Operated by a driver-pilot, its flight stability is secured with the assistance of a computer-controlled flight system.

The Japanese firm said it was developing eVTOL towards realizing a world where they are used in daily life for air mobility as much as automobiles are used for daily ground transportation.

For its part, CT UAV said it was on a mission to pioneer the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) with UAV technology towards a smarter, more advanced future with improved quality of life.

SkyDrive is currently developing a 3-seater eVTOL and is in the process of acquiring Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB) certification for it.

Under the MoU, SkyDrive and CT UAV will evaluate commercial considerations such as vertiports, route and network planning, infrastructure requirements, as well as an ecosystem with interested players that can play a role in launching new mobility solutions in Vietnam.

“We recognize the importance of leveraging accumulated expertise and technological capabilities in infrastructure development, as well as the development of cutting-edge technologies such as drones and AI. We expect to contribute to the general development of Vietnam in the global market," CT Group president Tran Kim Chung said at the signing ceremony.

About CT UAV

CT UAV is a subsidiary of CT Group, which holds 60 member companies in many fields including urban development, infrastructure, construction, logistics, and many high tech companies. UAV opens a new sky line for many industries, advanced in the abilities of observation, analytics, and transportation of goods, equipment, and human. CT UAV is looking to expand production of UAVs for many fields including agriculture and forestry; oil and gas industry; construction and architecture; environment protection; passengers; security; land and geography; and other industries.

About SkyDrive

SkyDrive was formally established in July 2018 after testing flying car concepts and prototypes with the mission of “taking the lead in the once-in-a-century mobility revolution.” Its vision is to create a future where everyone has access to eVTOLs as their daily transportation in Japan and across the world. The company succeeded in the first crewed flight test in Japan in 2019 and its eVTOL “SKYDRIVE” is in the process of acquiring its Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB) certification.

SkyDrive has been selected as a company to participate in the Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) project at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan. SkyDrive is headquartered in Toyota, Aichi prefecture. Tomohiro Fukuzawa is the CEO of the company.

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